Ten years ago, UBC Aboriginal Student Initiatives Coordinator James Andrew attended a conference in Ontario, where one of the school’s was aiming for 100 aboriginal medical school graduates by 2020. Taking into account BC’s population, Andrew, and the faculty, decided 50 aboriginal graduates was a reasonable goal for the same time frame. Fast forward and the school is well ahead of schedule.
The eight graduating aboriginal students in May brought the school’s total to 62 since 2006. The school actually surpassed the 50 mark last year when it celebrated its 54th grad.
Andrew believes the program’s success lies in the school’s outreach programs. UBC has been working with other universities like UNBC, and Brown promotes medical school at high schools and at Provincial workshops. Possibly the most effective inspiration is when the future doctors come with him.
“I also have some role models, so to speak, at hand that could help me go out to the communities or come with me to the communities and speak to the students on what it’s like to be not just an aboriginal student but also an aboriginal medical student.”
Andrew adds there’s also been a higher demand for doctors after the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and the recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Despite the outreach, these demands, and government funding, he says there’s still work to be done.
“We still have a small number of highs school students graduating and then if you look at the statistics of those a very small portion of those graduates are interested in the sciences or the health sciences.”
Currently, there are 44 aboriginal students currently enrolled in UBC’s medical program, which Andrew believes is one of the highest amounts, if not the highest, in Canada.